“Not pretty on the offensive end but our defense allowed us to compete and win the game,” Bolt said. “We really gave them tough looks every time coming down the floor. I think Lauren [Porcelli] did a great job of pressuring Geneva’s point guard [Michaela Loebel] – she’s a tough guard – and gave her trouble getting the team into their offensive set.”

The Trojans scored the first basket 30 seconds into the contest and never relinquished the lead.

The Vikings scored their first basket three minutes into the game on a bucket underneath by junior Abby Novak. The score was quickly answered by North’s Jaida Travascio-Green. The sophomore, who led all scorers with 12 points, drained a 3 to give her team a 10-3 advantage.

Geneva trailed 16-7 and the end of the first quarter.

“We had our backs to the wall all during the game,” Meadows said. “We started out flat. We only had 16 points at the half – we usually score that in a quarter. We just never put it together.”

The Vikings pulled within six points two minutes into the second quarter, 18-12, on a Morgan Seberger 3-pointer – the only Geneva 3 of the evening – and free throws by Madeline Dunn (nine points). Downers Grove North responded with an 11-4 run to end the half with a 29-16 lead.

Geneva managed only three baskets during the third quarter and trailed 37-25 starting the final period.